Trump defended his policies in an early-morning tweet on Monday, writing: "Tariffs have put the U.S. in a very strong bargaining position, with Billions of Dollars, and Jobs, flowing into our Country - and yet cost increases have thus far been almost unnoticeable. If countries will not make fair deals with us, they will be 'Tariffed!'"

He followed with another tweet a few minutes later that said: "Our Steel Industry is the talk of the World. It has been given new life, and is thriving. Billions of Dollars is being spent on new plants all around the country!"

The statements come as relations between the US and China appear to strain. There had been hopes of a resolution on trade between the two, but news of the planned fresh US tariffs has sparked anger in Beijing.

China is reportedly threatening to pull out of trade negotiations if the US levies new tariffs, and the Foreign Ministry on Monday said it would respond in kind if the US were to levy fresh tariffs.

The Global Times, a state-owned Chinese tabloid, said in an editorial on Monday: "We are looking forward to a more beautiful counterattack and will keep increasing the pain felt by the US."